Improvement in shuttle-box mechanisms for looms



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H; wYMAN. Y AShuttle-Box Mechanisms fur Looms;

Patented Jan.\5, 1875.

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UNITED STATES PATENT (')ErioEe HORACE WYMAN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF HIS RIGHT TO GEORGE CROMPTON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHUTTLE-BOX MECHANISMS FOR LCOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,394, dated January 5, 1875; appiicafnion led June 26, 1873.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE WYMAN, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Looms 5 `and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this speciiicatiomis a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

The invention has particular reference to a new organization of mechanism for operating the drop-boxes or drop-box compartments of fancy-looms.

In my invention I connect each drop-box rod to a cord extending around, or partially around, a vertical, or approximately vertical, series of pulleys or rolls, part of which pulleys or rolls turn on pins extending from gear-pinions meshing` into and driven by segment-gears on the peripheries of a series of wheels, from which extend pins that are operated (to turn the wheels) by pawls on the forked ends-of arms jointed to a crank-shaft, the pawls being suspended from indicating-levers, which are raised by the pattern mechanism, and which, with the pawls, fall by gravity when not held up by the pattern mechanism. When either i arm is raised the bottom pawl, connected to it, is brought into position to catch the lower pin of a gear segment-wheel as the pawl is drawn back,the pawl turning the segment so that it turns the pinion meshing into the segment-gear one hundred and eighty degrees, and when any arm falls the upper pawl'is brought into similar position with reference to the upper pin of one of the gear segmentwheels, the action of the pawl, as it is drawn back by the crank shaft, turning said segment-wheel, and imparting a half-rotation to the pinion, but in the opposite direction to the movement imparted by a bottom pawl. As either pinion is thus turned the action of its roll or pulley upon the cord extending around or partially around said pulley is such as to raise or lower the boxrod, and through a series of pinions and pulleys the extent of movement, by means of the various pinions, may be made such as to bring any box of a series into position.

My invention consists, primarily, in the method of working drop-boxes thus generally described.

The drawing represents a loom, or parts of a loom, embodying my invention.

Figurel shows the mechanism in end view. Fig. 2 shows a modiiication of the mechanlsm.

a denotes the loom-frame; b, the crankshaft connecting with and operating thc lathe in the ordinary manner. c denotes one set of the drop-boxes, a similar set being at the opposite end of the lathe. Each set of boxes is mounted on a vertical rod, d, sliding in suitable guides. In Fig. l the rod d is shown as fastened to a cord or other suitable flexible connector, e, at x2, the rod audits boxes being operated thereby to carry any lshuttle-box into position. f denotes the pattern-cylinder, supported by one arm of a bell-crank lever, g, whose other arm is connected by a link, lL, to a crank on the bottom shaft, c', rotation of the shaft vibrating the lever, and ,imparting reciprocating vertical movements to the cylinder. The 'cylinder is intermittingly turned by a suitable pawl, j, which engages with and moves a ratchet at each reciprocation of the lever. Over the cylinder are the indicatinglevers 7c l, (two levers only being shown,) and from each of these levers extends a pin, m, which pin strikes the card on the pattern-cylinder when the cylinder moves up, and rises with the cylinder, except when one of the holes of the pattern-card is beneath the pin, in which case the pin enters the hole, and the pattern-cylinder rises without imparting movement to the indicating-lever. Suspended from each lever is a forked or double-hook pawl at the end of an arm, n, pivoted to a crank,0, on the shaft c', rotation of the shaft imparting reciprocating horizontal movements to the pawls. p denotes the upper pawl, and q the bottom pawl, of one fork; and r, the upper pawl, and s the bottom pawl, ofI the other fork. By the rise of either fork (by the pattern-cylinder) its bottom pawl, qor s, is brought into position to engage with a pin, t or u, extending from a pin-wheel, c or w, and when either fork is down its upper pawl, p or r, is brought into position to engage with a pin, mor

y, extending from said Wheels,such en gagement takingplace When either of the armsais drawny back by the rotative movement of the crank o.

The pin Wheels t w are hung on a stud, z, and are Worked on said stud by the pawls. Each Wheel is made with a segment-gear, a2, the teeth of one of which meshes into the teeth of a pinion, b2, While the teeth of the other mesh into and drive a gear pinion, c2. The pinion b2 carries a grooved friction-roll, d2, and the pinion o2 a similar roll, e2, and around or over these rolls and grooved rolls or pulleys f2 g2 h2, turning on stationary pins, the cord e passes, as seen in the drawing, the cord passing by and through the grooves at each side ot' the rolls or pulleys d2 @2f2 g2 h2, and under the bottom pulley, h2, and its opposite ends being fastened to the frame, as seen at i2. When either pawl engages with a pin ofthe pin-wheel it turns the segment, and imparts a semi-rotation to the pinion connected therewith, carrying the roll connected therewith to a dialnetrieally-opposite position, which movement of the roll will bend the straight cord passing by it, and straighten the bent cord.

Now, it Will be obvious that if either or both of the pinions b2 02 be rotated one-half of a revolution, bringing'one or both of the friction-rolls cl2 e2 on the opposite side of the pinions, the cord on the loutside of the roll will become straight, While that portion on the inside Will assume a bent position, thereby altering the position of the fulcrum m2, and consequently lbringing a different shuttle-box into line with the race, the distance of d2 from the center of thespinion being such that with onehalf of a revolution the boxes Will be moved over one division, or from one box to that next adjoining it, While the distance of e2 from the center of its pinion is such that with one-halt of a revolution theboxes will be moved over tWo spaces or divisions, and by the movement of one or both pinions with the rolls, either one of the four boxes may be obtained. Itis also obvious that by increasing the pinions and frictionpulleys an increased number of boxes, as six or eight, may be operated.

The flexible connection d may terminate at x2, as shown at A, the series of boxes being carried down by gravity, in stead ot' being carried bya positive motion, as shown 5 but Iprefer the former method shown.

Inthemodilication shown at Fig.2 the gearscgments mesh into pinionsk2 l2, and the movement of the paw] s is so graduated that the pinions Will make one-half of a revolution When either of the pawls engages with one ot the teeth of the Wheels a2, in the same Way as is shown in Fig. l. These pinions carry studs m2 n2, to which are 'attached the cords o2 p2, the cord o2 passing over the stationary pulleys q2 and r2, and returning and passing around the pulley s2, attached to the drop box rod d, and the cordp2 passing around the stationary pulleys t2 and u", and, returning, passing around the pulley Q22, fast upon s2. rIo prevent the cordsv o2 p2 from slipping around the pulleys, the cords should be fastened to their respective pulleys s2 and t2 at such points of connection that neither cord Will leave its pulley during its partial rotation.

Now, it will be obvious that if either or both of thepinions liczorlZ be rotated one-half of a revolution, bringing one or both of the studs on the opposite side ofthe pinion, the fulcrum xcarryngthe rolls s2 and o2, will assume a different position, and bring a diffirent box into line with the race. Ihe movements oi' the studsmn2 are proportioned to the movement of' the Whole number of the boxes, and the diameter of the pulleys s2 and o2 is such that when the pinion carries m2 to its opposite position a movement of one box will be made, and when' the pinion carries n2 toits opposite position amovement over tWo boxes will be made, and bythe movements of one or both combined any onel of four boxes may be obtained.

It is apparent that if, instead of having the pulleys s2 and u2 of different diameters, they be made Vof the same diameter, and the distan ce of oneot' the studs n2 or m2 from the center of the pinion be increased, the same result may beobtained; but I prefer the method first described.

The flexible connections opzmay terminate on their respective pulleys at m2, as shown at B, the series of boxes being carried down by gravity, instead of being carried by a positive motion butI prefer the former method shown I claim- A system of grooved pulleys, cranks, and cording, substantially as described, combined With the pattern mechanism and drop-boxes of a fancy-loom, and operated and opera-tin g to control the boxes, as set forth.

HORACE WYMAN. Witnesses:

J. A. WARE, J. B. SYME. 

